Jools Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 When did you first encounter chickens? I've been sorting through some old photos and came across this one of me clinging onto Nellie for dear life! My grandfather kept a single chicken in the back garden of his council house, next to where he grew his vegetables. I'm certain he "replaced" Nellie every couple of years, but as far as we were concerned, she was a very long-lived chicken! Finding the photo again got me wondering - what was your first chicken experience? Oh and excuse the fringe - I did it myself at school one day, much to my mum's absolute horror!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Mine was when I was about 7 years old. My dad worked for a landowner as head gardener, the gardens were just below the pheasant pens and I started helping (or probably hindering ) the game keeper. As well as rearing pheasants for the shoots he also kept a few fancy hens and bantams. When we moved from there because the landowner went bust, the game keeper gave me some day old bantam cross chicks. I am sure that my parents were horrified, but they then kept hens for many years, until they had to move when my dad retired. I had always wanted to keep them again and when we won some money on the premium bonds we were able to buy our Eglu and get our first 3 girls one of whom is still going strong after 4 years, although I thing she may be going through the change because I heard a very crowing like noise the other day and she has a small k"Ooops, word censored!"bly growth on the back of one leg. Lovely pic Jools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Mine was when I got my hens in Oct '09. I had never picked up a hen before then! My mum's family used to keep hens when she was a little girl and she would often tell me about how when she got cross or upset, she would go and sit in the hen house with the hens and talk to them. It sounded so therapuetic I couldn't help but want to get some hens myself. I can also confirm that I too sit with the hens and talk to them (but don't need the excuse of being cross or upset ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Lived on a farm in Devon as a child (with my great aunt) they had battery sheds and barn kept chickens (plus dairy cattle and pigs). It was my job to top up feed and water, the sheds stunk and I felt sorry for the hens It was nice when the new lot of chicks came though - they were kept in an old stable and I used to sit in amongst them for hours I also had to help on slaughter day - don't ask and help with plucking afterwards. Loving the fringe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 My grandfather was a part-time gamekeeper too Chickencam and I have very happy memories of "helping" with his rounds. The sun was always shining back then! My dad started keeping bantams again when I was in my early teens. We had a ramshackle shed and a heath robinson fence at the top of the garden for them. I have memories of putting my hand in the corn bin at feeding time, only to have a mouse run up my arm. And of one hen in particular who disappeared one day and returned three weeks later with an enormous brood of chicks. And our daft labrador who decided she wanted to mother the chicks but was attacked by the broody for her troubles. Memory lane eh! Don't you love it (apart from the fringe of course!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 we always had a couple a chickens in the garden as kids ,and when i left home i was a army wife so couldnt have any ,my divorce pressie to my self was some chickens for the garden . loving the fringe by the way im so glad its not just my kids ,this is what my daughter did on monday i cried all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 i cried all day Oh dear, your DD looks on the verge of tears too. When I was at that "difficult" age of 14 or so my father grounded me....I can't even remember what for. He was ex RAF and at that time had a moustache that grew out sideways and he used to wax and twirl it.....It was his pride and joy. I crept into my parents' bedroom at dead of night and snipped one half off. I was saved from any retribution by my mother who said, "Thank God I always hated that." Anyway, back to chickens. My folks kept hens at the bottom of the garden ever since I could remember but it wasn't till I retired that I got my own. Small smallholding plans are afoot so I will be able to have more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Oh dear, she does look very contrite doesn't she! My mum was livid with me, so I cried a lot too! I do actually have a much worse photo somewhere (unless I've destroyed the evidence) but if I post that one, I'll have to post an angelic-butter-wouldn't-melt to the counter it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 My mum's aunt and uncle lived near Brechin and the great treat on family visits was being able to check for eggs (that and her fabulous baking; tables groaning with cakes and scones!). I'm sure she used to pose some eggs there so that there were some to find. I still find egg-collecting completely enchanting and hope I'm sowing the same seed in our young visitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazx Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I was three years old. My Uncle had chickens in the garden. I used to go out and feed them whenever we went over. I never realised that they werent the same ones until I was in my teens. I asked my Mother what happened to them. Apparently they were all 'eaters' not 'layers' so they were different ones each time I went over. The story goes that, at the tender age of six, I was found naming them all.My poor Uncle didnt have the heart to send them off for the dinner table so he gave them to a farmer to do what he liked with them. From then on, no more chickens, until my girls arrived last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 My grandfather kept a white rabbit as well. Thinking about it, that rabbit lived a very long time too ...... I wonder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 My grandfather kept a white rabbit as well. Thinking about it, that rabbit lived a very long time too ...... I wonder! I think we have all had goldfish like that too I had two bantams as a chilld - Redwing (RIR) and Scrawny (BC Sussex) they were fab and very tolerant then nothing until just over two years ago when I got my hybrids and Eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 From little acorns Redwing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I began with my grandfolks chooks on their smallholding, they kept chickens for eggs and meat, rabbits for meat, some sheep and goats (which I was scared of when I was little). I was 'in charge' of the chickens, fetching eggs, helping with cleaning out and watching despatching of the dinner birds. There was a period without chooks after they died and while I was living in London, the move up here meant the space to have chickens again Here's a picture of a young Rosie marvelling at a hatchling which she called Herbert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 That could be me (give or take a few years lol) - the miracle of new life never ceases to amaze me. I even get excited about digging the first spuds every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 When I was at that "difficult" age of 14 or so my father grounded me....I can't even remember what for. He was ex RAF and at that time had a moustache that grew out sideways and he used to wax and twirl it.....It was his pride and joy. I crept into my parents' bedroom at dead of night and snipped one half off. I was saved from any retribution by my mother who said, "Thank God I always hated that." OSH, this made me howl with laughter!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Just found a photo of Rosie with one of last year's chicks - by coincidence, it's almost an identical pose She asked 'are they so soft that you have to feel them with your cheek?' Well, they were about as lively as demented bumblebees and as soft as a whisper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 OSH, this made me howl with laughter!!!!! I was a horrid child. I once dropped an earthworm into my sleeping father's mouth when we were out in the garden. He forgave me everything, bless him. He loved his hens he used to talk to them and stroke them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I had two great aunts who kept hens, having done so all through the war. One, who kept a neat small holding had lots in a very neat pen. The other, a sweet, jolly lady, had a collection of rescue hens past their egg laying days in a very ramshackle affair. I loved holidays with both these ladies and for years and years the sound of chickens was the best sound in the world (Think R4 Saturday Live soundscapes). All I could do however was collect anything with hens on from hooks to books, but I kept on hoping and then last autumn I saw my chance when I read that if you got the right kind of hen they need not make too much of a mess in the garden. Finally OH was persuaded and my first Silkie arrived, then I managed to rescue a cockerel, then came some more Silkies and finally the Frizzles and I haven't finished yet. I'm still hoping that one day I can have big hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
